Ryan Seacrest will host NBC's 'Million Second Quiz'

Ryan Seacrest will host NBC's new game show, "The Million Second Quiz."

Ryan Seacrest will host NBC's new game show, "The Million Second Quiz." (Ray Mickshaw / Fox)

Patrick Kevin Day

The ubiquitous Ryan Seacrest is adding another hosting gig to his resume. He's just been named host and executive producer of NBC's new prime-time game show "The Million Second Quiz."

But it seems that NBC's president of alternative and late-night programming, Paul Telgedy, is counting on Seacrest's seeming involvement in nearly everything on TV to draw interest to the new show. In a statement, he said, "When people see Ryan Seacrest, whether at the Emmys, the Oscars or New Year’s Eve, he is at the epicenter of national events.... He is an accomplished host of live TV and a master of social media and pop culture. This makes him perfect for 'The Million Second Quiz.'"

The concept of the unusual game show involves contestants competing against each other nonstop for a million seconds (that's 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds) in an hourglass-shaped structure in Midtown Manhattan. Money is made by sitting in the "money chair" and answering trivia questions against a rival. Each second in the chair earns the player $10. The longer a contestant stays in the chair, the more money is made. Rivals can come from anywhere, either in person at the hourglass or online.

The new series premieres Sept. 9 and concludes Sept. 19, which means Seacrest will continue as host of Fox's "American Idol" in January. And there's still his radio show. And the occasional special. And New Year's Eve.